Gratitude is a wonderful thing. It gives us perspective, helps us appreciate what we have, makes us happier and brings happiness to others. It works on so many levels! Yet we often don’t express it as much as we should. Over the past few years, I’ve attempted to solve this “problem” by incorporating simple acts of gratitude into my daily routine and the results have been amazing!

Let’s start with the basics by distinguishing between gratitude directed inwardly towards yourself and from gratitude directed externally towards others because both are important in different ways. Self-gratitude is being grateful for what you have, what you have accomplished and where you are in life. It helps provide you with perspective and keep you grounded.

My family uses a simple daily routine to exercise our self-gratitude muscles. During our nightly prayers, we each say three “thanks yous” and one “please help.” Each family member thinks back on all the goodness in their day and shares out loud what they are grateful for. I highly recommend trying this exercise for a week with your loved ones. You can add it to your dinner routine, a nightly conversation with your significant other or you can even try jotting a few bullets in a gratitude journal before bed. Simple!

Gratitude for others, on the other hand, can be harder to take action on. If you’re like me, you think about showing gratitude way more often than you actually do it. Unfortunately, this isn’t a case where it’s the thought that counts. If you need a little extra motivation, consider this fun fact: our brains release feel-good neurotransmitters–dopamine and serotonin–when we express gratitude, so the simple act of saying “thanks” actually increases your own sense of well-being, happiness and pleasure (science!).

Over the years, I have found a few simple and fun ways to show gratitude that may help you as well.

Gratitude Made Easy

• Do it now: Express gratitude when you think of it. If you wait, you’re likely to forget.
• Action over format: It doesn’t matter if you call, write, email or text. The thought will be appreciated no matter how you express it.
• Quick and fun: Apps like Postagram and Ink are great ways to send a quick thank-you from your phone. For a few dollars, you can add a picture, a short note and have it shipped.
• Get others involved: I write down the presents my kids receive to help them create a to-do list that they can check off as they write their thank you notes. This doubles as an educational activity and helps the kiddos work on their writing, spelling and cursive.
• Turn it into a game: Have more fun with it! Gratitude Bingo is a great way to challenge yourself and your family. You can even create fun prizes for a bingo or a coverall. Gratitude Bingo is now available to download in my Free Resources.

For more ideas on thoughtful ways to express gratitude, check out this post on Tiny Buddha.

What are some easy ways you show gratitude?